The decision to move into continuing care can be a difficult one for many seniors and their loved ones.
There are many factors that must be considered and steps to be taken. That's why we work closely with them every step of the way to find out where they would like to live based on what type of continuing care they need and what would be best for their situation.
We know that for most, the best option is to find an appropriate continuing care space close to home. And many people have shared personal stories with us about why this is important to them.
We responded to this by suspending the policy that offered seniors spaces up to 100 kilometres away from their home community. Alberta Health Services and the Health Quality Council of Alberta are now reviewing placement guidelines in consultation with Health Advisory Councils, communities and seniors. Recommendations will be made based on this review and consultation.
Our focus is on ensuring continuing care residents are able to live as close as possible to their friends, family and support networks and that couples are kept together whenever possible.
This means working closely with them, and their families to find out where they would like to live based on what type of continuing care they need and what would be best for their situation.
Sometimes an appropriate continuing care space in their home community is not immediately available. If the choice is waiting in a hospital bed for a continuing care space to become available, or moving to a continuing care space farther from home, continuing care is typically the best care option – it's more home-like and a better environment for their health needs.
If they are moved to a continuing care space outside of their community, it is temporary. We make every effort to get them back to their home community as quickly as possible.
Seniors who do stay in a hospital bed in their home communities while they wait for a continuing care space are not moved until an appropriate continuing care space that meets their needs becomes available.
Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services are working to increase the number of continuing care living options to meet the growing need of Albertans across the province.
Since 2010, AHS has opened over 2,600 new spaces, over 50 per cent of our target to add more than 5,000 new continuing care beds by 2015.
We will continue to work to ensure seniors have access to the care and services they need. This extends beyond increasing continuing care capacity.
For example, we are also improving other options for seniors such as home care, health promotion, chronic disease management and rehabilitation services with the overall aim of helping many seniors remain safe, healthy and independent wherever they may reside.
Kerry Bales is the Central Zone Lead for Alberta Health Services.
